Smoothing roll



Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE SMOOTHING ROLL Jersey Application December 30, 1935, Serial No. 56,805 In Germany January 7, 1935 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for smoothing out wrinkles or folds in material and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for smoothing out the folds formed between the individual 5 fastenings inserted in the overlasted marginal portions of the uppers of shoes.

Heretofore it has been common practice to smooth out the folds of overlasted marginal portions of the uppers of shoes by means of pounding lvrnachines of a type which has a roll or drum carrying members which deliver blows to the work. One diculty which has been experienced in connection with such machines is that considerable vibration results from the operation which, in some instances, is objectionable to the operator.

In View of the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved smoothing machine vvhich is satisfactory in its operation upon the work and which, at the same time, will eliminate much of the vibration to which .such machines have been subjected. To this end, and as illustrated, the invention provides a machine comprising a smoothing roll having on its periphery a plurality of ribs arranged adjacent to each other and lying in parallel planes extending at an inclination to the axis of the roll. Upon rotation of the roll the points of contact of the ribs with the work will oscillate back and forth in directions parallel to the axis of the roll, there being one or more complete oscillations for each rotation of the roll. This construction is advantageous in that the work can be held in continuous engagement with the roll, thereby reducing the vibration of the parts to a minimum while, at the same time, producing an effective smoothing operation upon the work. Because of the oscillating nature of the work-engaging ribs the material of the lasted over margins of an upper of a shoe being operated upon will' be rubbed rst in one direction and then the other as distinguished from a rubbing action in one direction only. This avoids undue distortion of the material and assists the smoothing action of the roll.

These and other features of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description,

Fig. 5 is a side view of a modified form of roll;

and

Fig. 6 discloses a portion ofa smoothing machine showing a shoe being operated upon.

As illustrated inthe drawing, the machine comprises a smoothing roll IIJ designed for operation upon a shoe such as a lasted shoe I2, Fig. 6, and having an upper I4, marginal portions I6 of which are lasted over an insole I8.

As shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4 the roll I0 comprises a body portion the shape of which is generally spherical and having a periphery or workengaging face which is composed of a plurality of annular ribs or ridges 20 which extend in parallel planes inclined at an angle of approximately to the axis of a supporting shaft 22. The ribs 20, except those at the ends of the roll, extend continuously around the periphery of the roll. When a shoe is presented to the central portions of the roll as shown in Fig. 6, upon rotation of the roll in the direction indicated by the arrow the points of contact of the roll with the work will shift laterally in directions axial of the roll. For example, if one of the centrally disposed ribs 20 initially engages the work at a point indicated by reference character 23, upon successive movements of the roll through angles of the rib will make contact with the work at the point 24, Fig. 2; at point 25, Fig. 3; at point 26, Fig. 4; respectively, and at the end of a complete revolution of the roll the point of contact will have returned to the position as shown in Fig.-1. Thus it will be seen that the points of contact of the various ribs with the work will oscillate back and forth across the face of the work. This results in giving the marginal portions I6 a wiping action inwardly toward the central portions of the shoe as Well as laterally in diagonal directions across the faces of such portions. This action has been found to be very effective in pressing down folds and in smoothing out wrinkles without, however, causing distortion of the surface layers of the material. Forming the roll with a double curvature at its periphery renders the roll more effective in operating upon the curved shank portions of the shoe and facilitates the engagement of the roll with the shoe at those portions.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of roll 21 which is in the general shape of a cylinder and having a work-engaging face composed of a plurality of closely adjacent ribs 28 which extend parallel to each other. Successive portions of the ribs lie in planes which are inclined relatively to the axis of the supporting shaft 30 first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The direction of each of the ribs is changed eight times with the results that the points of contact of the ribs with the work will make four complete oscillations each revolution instead of one as is the case with the roll I0. This construction provides a .rapid smoothing action which is suitable terial inwardly to smooth it out.

In the operation of the machine a shoe such as shoe I2 illustrated in Fig. 6 is presented with the bottom thereof toward the roll I and usually resting upon a support 32 and is forced against the roll which upon rotation advances the ribs 20 downwardly across the lasted over portion I6 of the upper. As the roll revolves the points of contact of the ribs 20 with the work oscillate back and forth lengthwise of the shoe wiping the :material to smooth it out.

Having described my invention, what I claim .as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the yUnited IStates is:

1. A rotatable smoothing roll for shoe parts having vra work-engaging face composed of `a plurality of rigidly connected ribs extendingci'rcumferentially of the roll in parallel planes inclined to the axis o'f the roll whereby the points of contact of the roll with the Work make complete oscillations during each rotation of the roll.

2. A smoothing roll for shoe parts comprising a body portion which is generally spherical in shape, and a plurality of continuous ribs projecting from the body portion and lying in planes inclined to the axis of the roll.

3. A smoothing roll for shoe parts comprising a curved body portion terminating in a work-engaging face composed of closely adjacent continuously ridges lying in parallel planes inclined to the axis of the roll.

4. A smoothing `roll for shoe parts comprising a body portion terminating in a double convex `work-engaging face composed of closely adjacent annular ridges lying in planes which are inclined to the axis of the roll.

5. A smoothing roll comprising a curved body portion having a work-engaging surface composed of a plurality of continuous parallel ridges extending around the periphery of the roll, each of vsaid ridges being divided into a plurality of sections with adjacent sections lying in planes having different inclinations relatively to the axis -of the roll.

O'I'IO WILLY FROMM.

. -CEETIEICATE CE CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,158,09E. November 29, 1958.

CTTC WILLY EEOMEo It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the aboye numbered patent requiring correction as follows: n Page 2, first column, line 8, strike out the syllable and words "terial inwardly to smooth it out" and insert instead for some types of work; line l`8, before "'to insert inwardly; same page, second column, line lO-ll, claim 5, for "continuously read continuous; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of February,y A. D. 1959 Henry Van Arsdale.

(Seal) y Acting Commissioner of Patentso 

